Facsimile transmitter-sheet loading and stripping mechanism



06f. 1,2, 1948Vv w. G. H. FlNcH ETAL FACSIMILE TRANSMITTER SHEET LOADING AND STRIPPING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 17, 1946v 3 Sheets-Sheet l Lauwe/.evan Pressen.

3 MECHAN/:M ze-Lusso Foe more ro ons/urz.

INVENTORS A TTORN EYS Oct. l2, 1948 w. G. H. FlNcH Erm. 2,451,080

FACSIMILE TRANSMITTER SHEET LODING AND STRIPPING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed D60. 17, 1946 LOADING POSITION. 'MHAN/SM READY F02 RESET/NG.

STR/PPNG LEVER PEESSE. MECHANISM RELEASED FOR STR/FPEP T0 OPERATE.

ATTORNEYS Oct. 12, 194'8. w. G. H. FlNcH Erm.

FACSIMILE TRANSMITTER SHEET 'LOADING AND STRIPPING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 17, 1946 OPERATING 04%' LOADING CHUTE TlPlFP/Na HATE FIGB Ww /s/ MM sTElPP/Na PLATE IN Pos/T/UN FOR STE/PPING MEchMN/SM 6 w T E 5 E E M F u. E

PATH 0F TIPIPPIN PIN AT TO RNESYS Patented oet 12, 194s Y FACSIMILE TRANSMITTER-SHEET LOADING AND STRIPPING MECHANISM William G. H. Finch, Newtown, Conn., and Gottfried H. Hohmann, Bronx, N. Y., assignors to Finch Telecommunications, Inc., Passaic, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application December 17, 1946, Serial No. 716,772

7 Claims. (Cl. 271-3) Our present invention relates to facsimile apparatus of the type in which a record sheet is helically scanned on a drum and more particularly to Vautomatic means for mounting and securing a record sheet on the drum and for automatically removing the same at the conclusion of the scanning operation. Heretofore, various' devices requiring manual operations have been utilized for mounting facsimile sheets on both the transmitting and receiving drums of facsimile apparatus. These devices have included clamps, garter springs and various other arrangements which required manual wrapping of the sheet around the drum and manipulation of the various securing elements.

Our invention contemplates a device in which the user of the facsimile apparatus will simply drop a sheet into a slot and press a button; the apparatus will then wrap the sheet around the drum and secure the sheet thereon.

At the conclusion of the transmitting and recording operation, the operator of the apparatus need merely press another button vand the machine will thereupon release the sheet from the drum and deliver the same to the outside of the machine.

Esentiaily, our invention contemplates a construction in which the drum is provided with two rows of pins or other similar securing members `extending parallel to the axis of the drum; the

space between the pins being relatively small, slightly larger than the angular rotation of the drum required for synchronizing purposes.

Our apparatus includes a pressure plate so arranged that it may receive and hold a sheet with means for moving the leading edge of the sheet against one of the rows of pins so that the sheet may be impaled thereon. Subsequent rotation of the drum winds up the sheet around the drum and when the trailing edge passes the second row of pins, this edge is also impaled thereon. On completion; :of the scanning operation, a stripper bar or blade is moved into engagement with the drum to pick up the leading edge of the sheet from the pins. The stripper bar or blade remains in contact with the drum for one revolution until it strips off the trailing edge of the sheet from the drum. The sheet then slides out through an appropriate opening in the housing of the apparatus.

A primary object of our invention is, therefore, the provision of novel means for mounting a sheet on the drum of facsimile apparatus.

Another object of our invention is the provision 2 of novel automatic means for securing a sheet around the drum of facsimile apparatus.

Another object of our invention is the provision oi novel automatic means for mounting and removing facsimile sheets with respect to the drums of facsimile apparatus.

Heretofore such a stripping and loading mechanism designed to perform essentially the same function utilized spring biased members in order to force the pressure plate or the stripper bar into engagement with the drum and utilized cam members to force the pressure plate or stripper bar away from the drum. y

While apparatus of this type,lshown in application Serial No. 643,105, is feasible and practical, it has been found to be better practice t0 use a positively driven member to actuate the pressure plate or stripper" bar into engagement with the drum at exactly the proper moment and to use the spring member for resetting purposes.

Accordingly, the primary object of the present application is the provision o f novel operating means for the pressure plate and stripper bar, the said operating means depending on direct mechanical action to actuate the pressure plate and stripper bar into engagement with the drum at exactly the proper moment and utilizing spring members for resetting purposes only.

The foregoing and many other objects will become apparent in the following description and drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a. sche atic side view of our pressure plate and strip er bar actuating mechanism. showing the same in the at rest positions.

Figure 2 is a view of the pressure plate or loading plate mechanism showing the apparatus in the initial loading position with the loading lever pressed.

Figure 3 is a view corresponding to that of Figure 2 showing the pressure or loading plate in the actual loading position.

Figure 4 is a side view corresponding to the lower portion of Figure 1 showing the stripper bar mechanism in the initial position for strip ping a sheet from the drum.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of the drum showing the paper or sheet mounted thereon.

Figure 6 is a view corresponding to that of F18- ure 5 showing the full unloading position of the stripper bar.

Figure 'I is an enlarged view showing the manner in which the stripper bar operates to unload a sheet from the drum.

Figure 8 is a view in perspective showing the cooperation between the loading plate and the stripping bar and the drum.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 8, the drum Il mounted on shaft II is provided with a row oi' pins I2 and a row of pins I3. In operation, the loading mechanism hereinafter described impales the leading edge of the sheet carrying an image to be transmitted on the pins |2; then as the drum I continues to rotate, it pulls the sheet i5 from the loading mechanism and VWinds it around the drum until the trailing pins I3 move opposite the loading mechanism when the trailing edge of the sheet is impaled on the drum.

The gap I6 on the drum between pins |2 and I3 is provided in order to permit the loading mechanism and the sheet stripping mechanism hereinafter described to operate. The operations are mechanically timed although they are manually initiated; that is, although the loading and stripping levers may be pressed at any time. the pressing of these levers simply presets the mechanism So that the loading or stripping plates will be tripped at the proper position at the appropriate time with respect to the pins I2 and I3. Thus the loading mechanism is operated mechanically so that the loading plate will engage the drum Il when the area I6 thereof moves oppositethe end of the loading plate so that the pins I2 will tlrst impale the leading edge of the sheet to be loaded. The loading plate of the mechanism remains in y position against the drum until pins I2 have passed the plate and then the loading plate is withdrawn from engagement with the drum while the area I6 registers with the loading plate. Slmilarly the stripper bar, after the stripper lever has been pressed, is mechanically actuated into engagement with the drum when the area I 6 of the drum passes the ,edge of the stripper bar. The stripper bar then moves into engagement with the area i6 before the pin |2 reach the stripper bar. The stripper bar then peels the sheet from the drum I0, remaining in engagement with the drum until the pins I3 pass the stripper bar; the stripper bar is then Withdrawn mechanically from the drum as the area I6 passes the stripper bar.

In Figure 1 we have shown both the loading plate and stripper mechanism in the at rest position. In Figures 2 and 3 we have shown the operation of the loading mechanism. In Figures 4 and 6 we have shown the operation of the stripping mechanism. In Figure 8 we have shown the arrangement of the loading plate and stripper plate.

'Ihe loading plate 20 actually comprises a pair of parallel plates 2| and 22 spaced from each other in any appropriate manner as, for instance, by the spacing rivets 23. The upper ends of plates 2| and 22 are flared outwardly at .24 and 25 in order to permit a sheet readily to be inserted therebetween.

The front plate 2| extends down to the point of contact with the drum being provided with a series of open ended slots 21-21 in order to per-y mit the lower end of the plate 2| to clear the pins 'while the lower end of the plate is in er1` gagement with the drum. The back-plate 22 terminates at 30 substantially above the area of contact with the drum and is provided with a plurality of leaf spring extensions 32 extending down and furnishing a lower guide for the sheet i5 asshown inFigures 1, 2, 3 and 8.

The sheet I5 rests, as shown in Figure 2. on the pins or studs 34 carried by the cross bar 35 which prevents the sheet from dropping down out of the chute formed by plates 2| and 22.

When the loading plate is actuated from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 3, the lower end 2Ia oi.' plate 2| impales the sheet on the pins I2 and the sheet, of course, by this movement'is moved oi! the pins 34. The open ended slots 21 in the lower end 2Ia in plate 2| permit the pins to pass the plate 2| while nevertheless the pins impale the leading edge of sheet Il.

The entire chute formed of plates 2| and 22 is integrated or bound together by the side pieces 31 and the screws 3l which are only end pieces or shlms to provide clearance for the paper sheet. 'I'he rivets 23 fix the maximum width of sheet that can be loaded into the chute. The screws 38 also secure the chute. consisting of plates 2| and 22 to the cross bar 42 which cross bar is in turn rotatably mounted on the shaft 4I.

Thus the loading chute consisting of plates 2| and 22 may swing from the positions of Figures 1 and 2 to the position of Figure 3 for loading purposes. I'he cross bar 40 also has the lever 43 secured thereto and also rotatably mounted on the shaft 4|. The upper end of lever 43 is provided with the bolt 41 connected to tension spring 4l, the opposite end of whichvspring is connected to the stationary pin 49 mounted on the frame of the machine. The tension spring 48 thus biases the loading chute consisting of plates 2| and 22 in a counterclockwise direction to the position shown in Figure l.

The at rest position ofthe loading chute shown in Figure 1 is obtained by the adjusting screw 45 on lever -43 which may be locked inadiusted position by the lock nut 46 and which bears against the stationary pin 50 on the frame oi' the machine to limit the counterclockwise rotation of the chute -2 |-22 about the shaft 4| to approximately the vertical at rest position shown in Figure 1. I

The lower end 43a of the lever 43 below the shaft 4I carries the latch 52 rotatably mounted on the pin 54. 'I'he latch is provided with a latch detent to engage the latch element 5l on the operating lever 51 hereinafter described. The end of the latch member I2 opposite the latching detent 55 is connected at 60 to the tension spring 6I, the opposite end of which spring is connected to the stationary pin 62. Thus the latch lever 52 is biased into a clockwise rotation by spring 6| about the pin 54.

The latch lever is restrained against clockwise rotation under the iniiuence of spring 6I by reason of the fact that its under surface 63 rests on the latching element 56. The operating lever 51 is rotatably mounted on the pin 65 and is biased into clockwise rotation by the tension spring 8G connectedat 61 to the operating lever and at its opposite end to the stationary pin Il.

An operating cam 'Il is rotatably mounted on the .pin 'II and is provided with the lever l2 which lever may be manually depressed to rotate the operating cam I0 in a clockwise direction. The operating cam 'I0 is biased. however, to counterclockwise rotation by the tension spring I4 connected to the pin 'Ii on the operating cam 1l and connected at its opposite end to the pin Il.

A one-tooth ratchet member 'I6 is rotatably mounted on the pin 1I concentrically with the operating cam '|I|, the single tooth 13 thereof engaging the pin 'Il on the lever 30, which lever is pivotally mounted on the pin Il carried by the operating cam 1. 'Ihe ratchet 'It is provided with a tension spring 32 connected at II to the ratchet and at 32 to the stationary pin on the frame of the machine with tension spring 80 biasing the ratchet 16 towards counterclockwise rotation.

The stationary pin 83 operating in the recess 84 of the single tooth ratchet 16 limits the counterclockwlse rotation of the ratchet member 18 in the at-rest position. The operating cam is also provided with a stop pin 81 to limit rotation oi' the small lever 80 hereinafter described.

The lever 80 is, however, biased to clockwise rotation about the pin 15 by the tension spring 90 connected at 9| to the lever 80, the opposite end of the tension spring 90 being connected to the pin 1I. In the at-rest position shown in Figure 1, the upper end 92 of the operating lever 51 bears against the surface 10a of the operating cam which thus resists the bias of spring 68 which would otherwise rotate the operating lever 51 in a clockwise direction about the pin B5.

When now the manual lever 12 is depressed to the position shown in Figure 2, the operating cam 10 is rotated in a clockwise direction. The tension spring 80 thus rocks the ratchet 16 counterclockwise with respect to the cam 10 to disengage the tooth 18 thereof from the tooth 19 of the small lever 80 on the operating cam 10 and the cam surface 10a of the operating cam 10 is removed from engagement with the upper end 92 of the operating lever 51.

The spring 66 now rotates the operating lever 51 clockwise about the pin 65 so that the upper end 92 of the operating lever 51 strikes the lower end 80a of the lever -80 rotating the lever 80 counterclockwise about its pin against the tension of spring 90. The lever 80 thus rotates to a position where it is stopped against the pin 81, thus furnishing an accurate stop for the erating lever 51.

When the manual operating lever 12 is immediately thereafter disengaged, the spring 14 tends to return the operating cam 10 to its initial position but as -shown in Figure 3, the surface 10b of the operating cam 10 now rests on the top end 92 of the operating lever 51, and the operating lever 51 has been'rotated from the position oi' Figure 1 where it will not engage the actuating pin 95 to the position of Figure 3 where it will be engaged Iby the actuating pin 95. The actuating pin 95 is mounted on the operating disk 96 which is concentric with the drum I0 and secured to the shaft I I on which the drum rotates.

The pin 95 engages the lower end 51a of the operating lever 51 at the time when the area I5 of the drum has moved opposite the lower end of the loading plate 2|. The actuating pin 95 is longer than the resetting pin 98 hereinafter described, so that the resetting pin 98 my move 'under the end 51a of the operating lever 51 without having any effect on the same, while however, the actuating pin 95 actually contacts the lower end 51a of the operating lever 51 and the operating lever 51 is in the position of Figure 3 but does not contact the operating lever 51 when the operating lever 51 is in the position of Figure 1.

At the same time, when the operating lever 51 reaches the position of Figure 2, the latch element 55 thereof engages the latching detent 55 of the latcli 152. Consequently, any counterclockwise movement of the operating lever 51 will result in clockwise rotation of the loading plate 2| about its shaft 4| since the latch 52 is secured to the loading plate 2| inthe manner previously described below the shaft 4I.

Now therefore when' the actuating pin 95 engages the lower end 51a of the operating lever 51 when the operating lever 51 is in the position of Figure 2, it will move all of the elements from the position of Figure 2 to the position of Figure 3 and the operating lever 51 through the latch element 56 and latching detent; 55 of latch 52 will move the loading plate 2| so that the lower end 2 Ia thereof moves against the drum I0 at the region I8 so that the leading edge of the sheet will be in' a position tc be impaled by the pins I2.

It will be noted that the release pin 98 has already passed the release lever |00 of the latching lever 52 at this time so that the loading plate 2| will continuously rem-ain in the position of Figure 3 until the release occurs and thus the sheet will be pulled out of the chute 2|-22 until the trailing edge of the sheet is impaled on pins I3. Immediately thereafter the release pin 88 will engage the tip or trigger lever |00 of latching lever 52 rotating the latching lever 52 counterclockwise about its pin 54 to release the latching detent 55 from the latch element 58 so that spring 48 may snap the chute 2I--22 back to the position of Figure 1 and the loading/operation is complete.

It will be noted that Figure 3 shows the movement of the plate 2| to the loading position just before the same has been fully completed. At this time the actuating pin 95 has not completed its stroke with respect to the lower end 51a of the operating lever 51. At the completion of the stroke of operating pin 95 with respect to the operating lever 51, the upper end 92 of the operating lever has been moved to the position of Figure 1 so that spring 14 may restore the cam 10 an-d its associated elements to the position of Figure 1.

At this time, however, the operating lever 51 v has completed the job of impaling the leading be depressed and must be held depressed until the operating pin engages the lower end 51a of the operating lever 51. As soon as this engagement is achieved and the leading edge of the sheet is impaled upon the pins I2, the loading lever 12 may be released and the operation will proceed through to the full loading in accordance with the cycle established by the machine.

Then the cross bar 35 above described which carries the sheet supporting pin 34 is mounted in any suitable manner, as for instance-across the frame of the machine or on the upper wall IOI of the delivery chute.

The stripper bar I|0 is rotatably mounted on the shaft III and is provided with a series of open ended slots |I2 to clear the pins I2 and I3. When the stripper bar engages the drum as shown in Figure 6 and in the enlarged view of Figure 7, the rotation of the drum I0 against the stripper lbar permits the stripper bar to peel the sheet I5 from the drum I0.

The stripper bar IIO remains in engagement with the drum I0 for one complete revolution so that it may peel the'sheet from the pins I2 and continue to remove the sheet as the drum rotates until the sheet is pulled off the pins I3. The sheet then slides down the outer surface of the stripper bar and through any suitable delivery chute.

The stripper bar 0 has secured thereto the lever having the downward extension |2| which is connected at |22 to the tension spring |23 which tension spring is connected to the stationary pin |24 thereby biasing the lever |20 and the stripper bar into counterclockwise rotation away from the drum.

The upper end of the lever |22 carries the latching lever |23 pivotally mounted at |24 on the said upper end |22 of lever |20. Latching lever |24 is provided with the latching detent |25 to engage the latching element |26 on the operating lever |30. 'Ihe latch |23 is biased to clockwise rotation by the tension spring |32 engaging the pin |33 on the main lever |20.

In the at-rest position of all of the parts, the upper end |35 of the operating lever |30 bears against the surface |31a of the operating cam |31. The operating lever 30 is biased to clockwise rotation by the tension spring |40 connected at |4| to the operating lever and the opposite end of the spring being connected to the stationary pin |42. The operating cam |31 is biased to counterclockwise rotation by the tension spring |44 connected at one end to pin |45 on .the operating cam |31 and connected at its other end to the pin |42.

The operating cam |31 is rotatably secured on the stationary pin |50. The single ltooth ratchet 5| is also rotatably mounted on the pin |50, being biased by the tension spring |53 to rotation in a counterclockwise direction, but being limited in this rotation by the stop pin |55 operating in slot |56 -of the ratchet |5|. The single tooth |51 of the ratchet |5| engages the tooth |58 on the auxiliary lever |59 which lever is also pivoted on pin |45.

The auxiliary lever |59 is biased in a clockwise direction to the position shown in Figure 1 by the tension spring |60` When now the manual operating lever |62 is manually depressed to rotate the operating cam |31 from the position of Figure 1 to the position of Figure 4, the upper end |35 of the operating lever |30 drops oil the cam surface |31a to strike portion |59a of lever |59 and moves the lever |59 from the position of Figure 1 to the position of Figure 4 where itis stopped by the stop pin |65.

Since the lever |30 has rotated from the position of Figure 1 to the position of Figure 4, the latching element |26 engages the latching detent of the latch |23. On release of the operating lever |62, the cam |31 moves back to the position where the surface |31b thereof rests on the end 35 of lever |30. The lower end |30a of lever has now moved to a position where the actuating pin 95 will strike the same. When the actuating pin 95 strikes the lever |30, the

elements are moved from the position of Figure 4to the position of Figure 6 where the end of the stripper bar ||0 is moved against the section I6 of the drum and held against the section |6 of the drum for one revolution of the drum to strip the sheet |5 from the drum in the manner previously described.

The sheet then drops down the chutev 200 formed from the chute walls |0| and |02 for delivery through opening |93.

When the actuating pin 95 moves the operating lever |30 to the full stripping position of Figure 6, the end of `the operating lever |30 rides up on the cam surface |31a of vthe operating cam |31 so that while the operating lever 30 has been replaced, the engagement of latch elements |25|26 holds the stripper bar ||0 into engagement until it is tripped out. The tripping out occurs by the tripping pin 90 engaging the trigger |10 of the latching lever |22 to disengage elements |25-I26 and thereby permit the spring |23 lto move the stripper bar away from the drum.

By this means, therefore, a simplified apparatus is provided for positively mechanically forcing the loading plate against the drum and for positively mechanically forcing the stripper bar against the drum. When the loading mechanism or the stripping mechanism is forced into cooperative position with the drum, it is latched in by the latching elements 55-56 for the loading plate and latch elements |25-l26 for the stripper bar until these latching elements are released by the tripping pin 38 actuating .the trigger of the respective latching levers.

In the foregoing, we have described one preferred specific embodiment of our invention. Many variations and modifications of our invention will now be obvious to those skilled in the art, and we prefer therefore to be bound, not by the specific disclosures herein, but only by the Iappended claims.

We claim:

l. In facsimile apparatus, a rotatable cylindrical drum; means for mounting a facsimile sheet on said drum; said means comprising .two rows of pins extending from the surface of the drum parallel to the axis of the drum; one row of pins being adapted to impale one margin of said facsimile sheet; the other row of pins being adapted to impale the opposite margin of said facsimile `sheet; a loading'plate having one end engageable with said drum; said loading plate including means for supporting a facsimile sheet; said loading plate being biased away from said drum: and means for driving one end of said loading plate against said drum; said last-mentioned means comprising an operating cam biased to a predetermined position and manually operable to a second predetermined position; an operating lever for moving the loading plate toward said drum and biased against said cam; and latch members connecting said operating lever and said loading plate; said latch members being normally disengaged; the movement of said operating cam to said second position causing said latch members to engag-e and permitting the operating lever to rotate to a second position under the influence of its bias; a pin movable with said drum and engaging an end of said lever to rotate the same back toward the ilrst position thereof at a predetermined angular posi-tion of the drum; said engaged latch members transmitting the motion of the lever to the loading plate at said predetermined angular position of the drum.

2. In facsimile apparatus, a rotatable cylindrical drum; means for mounting a facsimile sheet on said drum; said means comprising Vtwo rows of pins extending from the surface of the drum parallel to the axis of the drum; one row of pins being adapted to impale one margin of said facsimile sheetrthe other row of pins being adapted to impale the opposite margin of said facsimile sheet: a loading plate having one end engageable with said drum; said loading plate including means for supporting a facsimile sheet: said loading plate being biased away from said drum; and means for driving one end of said loading plate against said drum; said last-mentioned means comprising an operating caxn biased. to

a predetermined position and manually operable to a second predetermined position; an operating lever for moving the loading plate toward said drum and biased against said cam; and latch members connecting said operating lever and said loading plate; said latch members being normal- 1y disengaged: the movement of said operating cam to said second position causing said latch members to engage and permitting the operating lever to rotate .to a second position under the influence of its bias; a pin movable with said drum and engaging an end of said lever to rotate the same back toward the first position thereof at a predetermined angular position of .the drum; said engaged latch members transmitting the motion of the lever to the loading plate at said predetermined angulan position of the drum and another pin 4on said drum engaging one of the latch members at another angular position of the drum to disengage said latch'members and permit the loading plate biasing element and the operating lever biasing element to return them to their original posi-tions.

3. In facsimile apparatus, a rotatable cylindrical drum; means for mounting a facsimile sheet on said drum; said means comprising two rows of pins extending from the surface of the drum parallel to the axis of the drum' one row of pins being adapted to impale one margin of said facsimile sheet; the other row of pins being adapted to impale the opposite margin of said-facsimile sheet; and a stripper bar having a blade engageable with said drum; said stripper bar being biased away from said drum; and means for driving one end of said stripper bar against said drum'; said last-mentioned means comprising an operating cam biased to a predetermined position and manually operable to a second predetermined position; and an operating lever for moving the stripper bar toward said drum and biased against said cam; latch members connecting said operating lever and said stripper bar; said latch members being normally disengaged; the movement of said operating cam to said second position causing said latch members to engage and permitting the operating lever to rotate to a second position under the influence of its bias; a pin movable with said drum and engaging an end of said lever to rotate the same back toward the first position thereof at a predetermined angular position of the drum; said engaged latch members transmitting the motion of the lever to the stripper bar at said predetermined angular position of the drum.

4. In facsimile apparatus, a rotatable cylindrical drum; means for mounting a facsimile sheet on said drum; said means comprising two rows of pins extending from the surface of the drumparallel to the axis of the drum; one row of pins being adapted to impale one margin of said facsimile sheet; the other row of pins being adapted to impale the opposite margin of said facsimile sheet; and a stripper bar having a blade engageable with said drum; said stripper bar being biased away from said drum; and means for driving one end of said stripper bar against said drum; said last-mentioned means comprising an operating cam biased to a predetermined position and manually operable to a second predetermined position; and an operating lever for moving the stripper bar toward said drum and biased against said cam; latch members connecting said operating lever and said stripper bar; said latch members being normally disengaged; the movement of said operating cam to said second position causing said latch members to engage and permitting the operating lever to rotate to a second position under the influence of its bias: a pin movable with said drum and engaging an end of said lever to rotate the same back toward the first position thereof at a predetermined angular position ofthe drum; said engaged latch members transmitting the motion of the lever to the stripper bar at said predetermined angular position of the drum; and another pin on said drum engaging one of the latch members at another angular position of the drum to disengage said latch members and permit the stripper bar biasing element and the operating lever biasing element to return them to their original positions.

5. In facsimile apparatus, a rotatable cylindrical dru-m; means for mounting a facsimile sheet on said drum; said means comprising two rows of pins extending from the surface of the drum parallel to the axis of the drum; one row of pins being adapted to impale one margin of said facsimile sheet; the other row of pins being adapted to impale the opposite margin of said facsimile sheet; and a facsimile sheet handling plate engageable with said drum; said plate being biased away from said drum; and means for driving one end of said plate against said drum; said lastmentioned means comprising an operating cam biased to a. predetermined position and manually operable to a second predetermined position.; an operating lever for moving the plate toward said drum and biased against said cam; and latch members connecting said operating lever and said plate; said latch members being normally disengaged; the movement of said operating cam to said second position causing said latch members to engage and permitting the operating lever to rotate to a second position under the infiuence of its bias; a pin movable with said drum and engaging an end of said lever to rotate the same back toward the first position thereof at a predetermined angular position of the drum; said engaged latch members transmitting the motion of the lever to the plate at said predetermined angular position of the drum.

6. In facsimile apparatus, a rotatable cylindrical drum; means for mounting a facsimile sheet on said drum; said means comprising two rows of pins extending from the surface of the drum parallel to the axis of the drum; one row of pins being adapted to impale one margin of said facsimile sheet; the other row of pins being adapted to impale the opposite margin of said facsimile sheet; and a sheet handling plate engageable with said drum; said plate being biased away from said drum; an operating lever; a member movable with said drum; manually operable means for moving said operating lever from a first position to a. second position where it may be engaged'by said member movable with the drum at a predetermined angular position of the drum; and a coupling between the operating lever and the plate; said coupling being disconnected in the first position of the operating lever and being connected in the second position thereof; said membenmovable with said drum engaging the lever when the lever is in the second position to move the sheet handling plate to the drum.

7. In facsimile apparatus, a rotatable cylindrical drum; means for mounting a facsimile sheet on said drum; said means comprising two rows of pins extending from the surface of the drum parallel to the axis of the drum; one row of pins 11 being adapted to impale one margin of said facsimile sheet; the other row of pins being adapted to impale the opposite margin ofV said facsimile sheet; and a sheet handling plate engageable with said drum; said plate being biased away from said drum; an operating lever; a member movable with `said drum; manually operable means for moving said operating lever from a rst position to a. second position where it may be engaged by said member movable with the drum at a predetermined angular position of the drum; and a coupling between the operating lever and the plate; said coupling being disconnected No references cited. 

